Softened eggplant is remodeled into juicy vegetarian meatballs on this eggplant meatballs recipe! Baked within the oven earlier than being tossed in pasta sauce, every meatball is bursting with Italian flavors that pair completely with spaghetti, subs, and extra.
I used to have a tough time arising with dinner concepts for Meatless Monday, however not anymore! It’s now simpler than ever to show greens into new and thrilling dishes, like plain cabbage into meaty cabbage steaks and uncooked cauliflower florets into Basic Tso’s cauliflower.
Eggplant is certainly one of my favourite greens for this very cause. It’s enjoyable to play with and can be utilized to make vegetarian-friendly pizza, low carb lasagna, and a lot extra.
On this eggplant meatballs recipe, sautéed eggplant is pureed with easy components, then rolled into balls and baked to meaty, Italian-flavored perfection. The baked meatballs are tossed in pasta sauce and served over pasta, with salad, or nonetheless you want! It’s a richly flavored and deliciously meaty recipe that you just’ll hardly discover is meat-free!
Desk of Contents
- Why you’ll love this eggplant meatball recipe
- Substances wanted
- Gluten free substitute
- Learn how to make eggplant meatballs
- Tricks to make the perfect recipe
- What to serve with eggplant meatballs
- Storage directions
- Advisable instruments to make this recipe
- Extra eggplant recipes to attempt
- Often requested questions
- Eggplant Meatballs
Why you’ll love this eggplant meatball recipe
- Mouth-watering Italian flavors. A handful of components, like garlic, basil, and parmesan, are used within the meatball filling to assist each chew style like traditional Italian-style meatballs.
- Vegetarian. You gained’t be lacking the meat on this recipe! A mix of pureed eggplant and Italian-inspired components leaves you with savory vegetarian meatballs which are naturally meaty and tender.
- Versatile. Serve the eggplant balls and pasta sauce over spaghetti for a traditional meal, or take it excessive by stuffing them into subs, topping them on a salad or grain bowl, or make them the principle dish. There are countless methods to serve eggplant meatballs!
Substances wanted
This recipe is made with virtually all the identical components as a standard Italian meatball recipe however swaps the bottom meat for softened and pureed eggplant. That is what you want:
- Eggplant. You want 2 medium-sized eggplants to make this recipe.
- Olive oil. To sauté the eggplant.
- Water. Water helps the eggplant soften within the pan and prevents it from burning. Be at liberty to make use of vegetable inventory as a substitute to deepen the flavour.
- Salt and pepper. For taste.
- Garlic. Recent garlic cloves give the meatballs a definite and mouthwatering savory taste.
- Basil. Recent basil is greatest however dried will work in a pinch.
- Italian breadcrumbs. Use pre-seasoned Italian breadcrumbs or common breadcrumbs stirred along with an Italian seasoning mix.
Gluten free substitute
To make gluten free eggplant meatballs, use Italian-seasoned gluten free breadcrumbs as a substitute.
- Parmesan cheese. This offers the meatballs a savory, salty, and tacky taste. You may even add shredded mozzarella along with the parmesan for additional tacky and gooey meatballs.
- Eggs. To bind the meatball combination collectively.
- Pasta sauce. Any jarred or do-it-yourself pasta sauce (or sugo!) you like will work.
- Parmesan cheese and recent basil. For garnish.
Learn how to make eggplant meatballs
Making meatballs with eggplant is less complicated than it’s possible you’ll assume. They arrive collectively in simply 6 easy steps:
Step 1 – Prepare dinner the eggplant
Warmth the olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium warmth. As soon as it’s sizzling, add the eggplant and sauté. Pour the water into the pan and proceed cooking till the eggplant is smooth.
Step 2 – Puree
Switch the softened eggplant to a meals processor together with the garlic, salt, pepper, and basil. Course of till easy, then pour right into a mixing bowl.
Step 3 – End the meatball combination
Add the breadcrumbs, parmesan, and eggs to the bowl with the blended eggplant. Stir collectively, being cautious to not over-mix.
Step 4 – Form and bake the meatballs
Use your arms to form a scoop of the combination at a time into spherical golf ball-sized meatballs. Place them on a baking sheet, then bake within the oven.
Step 5 – Warmth the tomato sauce
Whereas the baked eggplant meatballs are cooling, warmth the pasta sauce within the non-stick skillet. Place the meatballs within the skillet however don’t toss them within the sauce.
Step 6 – Serve
Take the skillet off of the warmth when the sauce is warmed by means of. Garnish with parmesan cheese and basil, then serve!
Tricks to make the perfect recipe
- Is the eggplant combination too moist? Attempt stirring in additional breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese till it isn’t soggy and is less complicated to work with.
- Use clear and moist arms to form the meatballs. Just a little water in your arms will stop the combination from sticking.
- Roast the eggplant. To deepen the flavour of the meatballs, toss the eggplant items in olive oil, then roast them in a 450ºF oven for 20 to half-hour or till the items are smooth and frivolously browned.
What to serve with eggplant meatballs
Identical to common or vegan meatballs, you possibly can high the eggplant meatballs and tomato sauce on a plate of spaghetti or your favourite pasta. For a lighter choice, swap the pasta for gluten free pasta, leafy greens, or zucchini noodles as a substitute.
The meatballs are additionally scrumptious as a foremost dish for dinner. Pair them with Italian-inspired aspect dishes, like stuffed tomatoes, garlic knots, and orzo salad for a flavorful Italian feast.
Be sure that to avoid wasting leftovers to stuff into meatball subs for lunch the following day!
Storage directions
To retailer: As soon as they’re cooked within the sauce and barely cooled, you possibly can retailer the leftover meatballs in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
To freeze: Eggplant meatballs could be frozen with out the tomato sauce for as much as 2 months. Thaw them on the kitchen counter earlier than reheating.
To reheat: Reheat the meatballs with the tomato sauce in a non-stick skillet till they’re heated by means of.
Extra eggplant recipes to attempt
Often requested questions
No, peeling the eggplant isn’t vital. Because it cooks, the pores and skin softens and melts in your mouth, identical to the flesh.
Certain! The meatballs could be ready with out the marinara sauce, then saved within the fridge or freezer for later.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Grease a big baking tray and put aside.
Add oil to a big non-stick pan and place over medium warmth. As soon as sizzling, add the eggplant and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add the water and cook dinner for an additional 10 minutes or till the eggplant has softened.
Switch the eggplant combination to a meals processor, together with the garlic, salt, pepper, and basil, and course of till easy. Switch to a mixing bowl.
Add the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and egg and blend properly. If the combination is just too moist, add extra bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
Utilizing your arms, form the combination into meatballs. Place the meatballs on the baking tray and bake for 20 minutes.
Take away from the oven and allow them to cool barely.
In a non-stick skillet, add the tomato pasta sauce. Add the meatballs to it however don’t combine. As soon as the sauce is heated, take away from the warmth and drop just a little sauce on every one, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and a few finely chopped basil.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 379kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 16gFats: 16gSodium: 1425mgPotassium: 688mgFiber: 9gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 453IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 272mgIron: 3mgNET CARBS: 37g
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